BARCUT

Barents Sea drill cuttings research initiative (BARCUT)

Background and overall aim

The Barents Sea is as a sensitive environment with large potential for bio-resources. The Norwegian authorities therefore apply a “zero harmful discharge” policy on petroleum activities in the Barents Sea. However, during the onset of exploration of the Barents Sea, the regulations for marine discharge of drill cuttings was less strict, which resulted in the discharge of several types of drill cuttings and drilling fluids, and their associated contaminants, into the Barents Sea.

Drill cuttings can have a negative effect on the marine environment. Handling of drill cuttings in the Barents Sea is therefore still a topic of debate. Two scenarios include: a) marine discharge or b) disposal on land. Valid considerations for both options are environmental concerns, health and safety issues and socio-economic cost-benefit assessments. Storage of drill cuttings on land can result in leaking of contaminants into the natural environment. Release of drill cuttings at the seafloor includes other environmental issues that remain poorly understood.

Drill cutting 4300 times enlarged (Photo: Tom Eilertsen UiT)

The BARCUT (Barents Sea Drill Cuttings Research Initiative) project (July 2013 – March 2019) aims to identify the long-term environmental impact of drill cuttings released to the marine environment and to address relevant societal concerns.

BARCUT is a research and monitoring program for petroleum related activity in the Barents Sea. The project is carried out by Akvaplan-niva, Norut Tromsø and UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø (UiT). Eni Norway AS, fully finances the program.

The project consists of five different work packages (WP) and has a multidisciplinary approach combining the fields of geology, ecology, biology, oceanography, chemistry and social sciences.

Within the project, high quality seafloor sediment samples were collected with a ROV, along transects away from wells drilled between 1987 and 2015 (Fig. 1). These sediment samples are studied in a multidisciplinary way (see description for the relevant WPs). Additionally visual studies are done around the wells to see sea floor impact of drill cuttings.

The project will provide knowledge on the long-term environmental impacts of previous- and present sub-marine placement of drill cuttings, contributing to minimization of the environmental footprint of upcoming operations in the High North. The project will contribute to knowledge- based decision making on handling of drill cuttings in the Barents Sea.

Project description

WP1 Project management

Coordinated by the EWMA secretariat

Resources: Stian Røberg

WP2Applied sea floor research

Coordinated by Akvaplan niva and UiT

Main objective: Impact of discharges on sediment conditions and microbiota and macro fauna

Resources: Bjarne Landfald (UiT) and Sabine Cochrane (Akvaplan niva)

WP3Spreading and deposition of drill cuttings

Coordinated by UiT

Main objective: Site specific spreading of drill cuttings on the sea floor and their influence on marine environment

Fig. 1 b) Detailed bathymetric map of the Ingøydjupet-Tromsøflaket regions the wells were sediment cores were taken along transects (Fig. 2) for environmental studies in the BARCUT project.

Fig. 2. (left) Schematic overview of how sediment samples were taken along a transect away from a well. (right) Schematic overview of how sediment cores provided a timeline into the past, providing information on environmental baselines, impact and recovery.

Core capture with ROV (photo: Oceaneering 2015)

BARCUT is fully financed by Eni Norge and was initiated 1 of July 2013.